Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-08-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
, WASHINGTON, Aug. ]

WAVutNu t0N
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 1887.
The investigation of the accounts
of disbursing officers of the Govern
ment,, which was set Oh foot and
heralded forth by the Democratic
of the Treasury, after the
discovery of the Bacon defalcation
and the Harvey forgeries, has about
been completed, with very satisfac-
tory results, not to the Democrats
but to the Republicans
holding these positions, for the bal
ances are found to be square. A case
in point is that of the financial and
discussing clerk Of the Interior De-
partment, whose transactions, since
he took Office, four years ago, make
this showing. Total disbursements
for that time, S21, 754 ,363.13. The
same official also keeps the accounts
of all the other disburslng officers of
the same Department, amounting to
about Sl0O,OO0,O00 annually-eyery
cent of which has been accounted
for properly. This is the greatest
disbursing Office of the United States
Government-the immense sum of
over 500, 100000 having been hand
led in the past twenty years, with
out the loss of a cent.
Ohio has occupied a large share
of attention at the Capital this week
the action of its State Convention
being considered of national signi.
ficance, and as far as / have heard
of opinion, the work of
that large and enthusiastic body is
with favor by all Republi-
cans and with doubt and dismay by
the Democrats, for the latter evil
IDENTIFY see in it the first straw of the
great popular storm OF wrath ballots
that will overwhelm their cause in
the fall of 1888, when even Grover
Cleveland's proverbial luck will not
avail against tho storn Gat of Eato-
Before adjourning for their mid
vacation, the Insterstate
Commission heard two very impor.
tant cases-the drummers against
the railroads.&c. which it was de.
cided that the former are not enti-
tied to special rates, but must pay
regular fare as all others, and the
case of a colored man who paid
Southern railroad first class fare, but
was forcibly elected from the first
class car and compelled to occupy
the smoker, otherwise known as the
sc Jim Crow car" All the Southern
to the negro was brought
out in the trial of this case, for the
victim was beaten over the head
with a lantern and cuffed like he
was slave, though as matter of
fact, he is man Of unusual intelli.
gence-being a minister of the Cos
pei and a school teacher. In this
case a decision was deferred.
For the past month the revenue
receipts amount to over $32, 000, 900,
an average of more than 81, 900, 900
> day. The disbursements for the |
same time, inclusive of 81, 800, 900 |
paid out for pensions, amount to |
about S25, 100000 making an excess
Of receipts of 81, 100000. The Treas |
lrer reports the surplus to be S43,.
LOO, 000-an increase of $4,000, 900 |
n month. But the Treasury off. |
,ials say they think that heavy pay
nents to be made this month Will |
reduce the surplus six or seven mil.
ions by the first of September
next.
The Chief of the Bureau of Animal
Industry has just made a report that
will be of general interest. The to-
al number of herds inspected dur
ng six months is 5,351 containing
1904 animals, of which about one
ourth were placed in quarantine,
lmong which there were 9O4 diseas-
ID cattle; post norton examinations
we're held on the carcasses of five
housand cows, and of this number
ully one fourth were found to have
lied of Pleuro-pneumonia.
Those interested in the tobacco
Industry are greatly excited at the
'lleged over estimation of the grow
ne crop of that weed-bringing
hat serious charge against Statisti-
ian Dodge, of the Department of
\ griculture, who attempts to make
that appears to be very lame de-
ense. The Southern newspapers
oddly charge that the estimate is
90 per cent. too high, and one of
hem uses such severe language as
his: "This list of estimates is a
isgrace to the Department, and if
resident Cleveland should have the
cal facts laid before him, the head
the Department wonld undoubt-
dly receive forthwith an indefinite
ave of ABSENCE
Lately much has been written
bout a change in the Washington
ostmastership-the widow of Gen.
hancock being among those men,
oned for the place, but, i learn
nat change will probably not be
lade until Congress meets.
all East Washington as well as
avail circles are discussing a scan
al in high life-the parties being a
lrgeon of the navy and the four
zen year old daughter of a promi-
ent physician. The affair is of un-
snal legal, as well as social interest,
y it Is proposed to make it a test i,
ase under the Edmunds act-it be-
70 held that this law applies to all